Friday, October 4, 2019, Issue 117: Fall is here with cozy knits...what's on your needles?

• Posted on 4 October 2019
• By Susan Wong-Tsang
• Posted in Fall Knitting, Favourite Patterns, October 2019
• 0

Our evenings have started to cool down...With cool, crisp fall days on the horizon, it will be the perfect weather to start that sweater or cozy shawl, hat or cowl!

My mom likes to be warm and cozy so she chose to wear her Monochrome Pullover by Katrin Schneider that I knit for her to my niece's wedding this past Saturday!

Here I am wearing it for my Ravelry photo before sending it to her!

The lovely Trish and her new husband Mike dancing the first dance as newlyweds!

Me with my four of my siblings!

Photo shenanigans!

PATTERNS

What could possibly be cozier than a simple, chunky sweater with generous ribbing and a turtleneck that dreams are made of!? I fell in love with this colourway and knew I wanted something simple yet spectacular to let it shine in a garment. If you need me, I’ll be the one walking around on perfect fall days snug as a bug in a rug in my ultimate chunky sweater! This is how Metropolis by Tanis Lavallee (Tanis Fiber Arts) is described by the designer!

This free pattern is one that will be a quick knit with its gauge of 12 stitches and 15 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch in the round with 8.0 mm (US 11) needles knit in the round, and measured after blocking or as required to get gauge. 6.0 mm (US 10) needles are used for the ribbing. Knit it using a bulky yarn and a size that has 2-4 inches of positive ease.

Have you seen the Koigu Pencil Boxes and wondered what you can make with one of those lovely boxes? Venation Shawl by Ambah O’Brien was designed to be knit using a Koigu Pencil Box but it can also be knit with 870 yd/796 m of fingering weight yarn. Designed to make the most of the Koigu pencil box set featuring 10 colours, Venation Shawl will keep you inspired to knit as you work toward each colour. Simple shaping also keeps the project interesting and results in an easy-to-wear shallow triangle shawl. It is inspired by the venation structure of leaves, and the autumnal colours chosen for the sample reflect this. Of course, any colour fade combination will shine with this project as will knitting a solid colour version, allowing the venation structure to be the focal point.

Ambah O’Brien’s Venation Shawl is 20% off with code VENATION on Ravelry until October 14, 2019. The shawl is knit using 3.75 mm (US 5) needles or as required to get a gauge of 18 sts and 40 rows = 4”/10 cm in the Venation Eyelet stitch, blocked. Gauge is not crucial for this project, but variations will affect yardage and final measurements. The finished blocked size has a wingspan of 92”/231 cm and a depth of 16.5”/42 cm.

WIP's and FO's

I didn’t finish my Riverway by Veera Välimäki for the wedding last weekend but now instead of settling for a shorter version like the pattern, I am going to make it longer!! I think I am going to knit the sleeves first so that I can knit the length until I am almost out of yarn. I still have a skein and a half left so I think I should be able to get thigh length??

I started a top down colourwork sweater too...just like the ladies in the Strange Brew class! I have swapped out my chart from Strange Brew for the charts from Caitlin Hunter’s Birkin from Laine Magazine 2! I am using Baa Ram Ewe Titus for these two colours and Garnstudio Drops Flora for the other three colours!

Love Jen’s Strange Brew - Moraine sweater by tincanknits knit in Malabrigo Rios!! As she says, Even the most skilled knitters can learn a thing or 2 from taking a class! Jen and her mom are both taking the Strange Brew Colourwork Class.

KNIT GROUP AND GALLERY

The current Knit-Alongs are the Knit Your Any Sweater KAL and the Knit Any Shawl KAL and the Knit Your Project: the everlasting knit-along to encourage and support you to knit will run from September 1 until December 31st.

Sandi’s Oh, Gnome, You Didn’t and...

Gno Fun Like Gnome Fun by Sarah Schira - Aren’t they the cutest??

Sandi’s Wrackspurts Hat test knit - pink and gray, brioche, bobbles and colourwork!

Trina’s favourite pattern is Sunshine Coast by Heidi Kirrmaier! I think she has knit five - this one she knit using a beautiful shade of Rowan Tetra Cotton!

She loves the side details!

Connie looking wonderful in her Tegna by Caitlin Hunter!

She knit hers using Araucania Botany Lace! Connie also wanted to finish the yarn so she knit 3/4 length sleeves instead of short.

My sister Mary had me ship her a skein of Malabrigo Mechita in Storm so that she could knit Joji’s Storm shawl to wear with her dress as Mother-of-the-Bride!

This was her first shawl! I don't think it will be her last!

Dianne knit this super sweet little sweater using Sirdar Snuggly Baby Crofter DK

Christina’s super cute Watermelon Baby Cardigan by Stitchylinda Designs

CLASSES!

I know it is very last minute but we are hoping two more people will sign up for these two classes! We need at least four to run a class! Let me know asap if it is just a matter of the dates not working. Otherwise, I will reschedule for those already registered!

Register and take this class - learn and practice stranded colourwork; steeking - cutting your work, oh my!; vikkel braids; corrugated ribbing; I-cords...This class starts soon so don’t miss out! This class was also rescheduled to start Saturdays, October 5, 12 & 26 – 1 am to 3 pm. Register for this class HERE.

Have you ever wanted to try weaving? In this DIY class you will learn the basic techniques to make your own scarf using a rigid heddle loom! The class fee for this one session workshop includes yarn for the warp and the use of a Sampleit Loom for the class. You will purchase yarn for your weft! This workshop is scheduled for Sunday, October 6 – 10 am to 4 pm. Register HERE. Bring your lunch and enjoy!

The Beaded Knit Gloves is going to be rescheduled! Let us know if an evening class will work better!

Happy Friday, Happy Knitting, Crocheting and Crafting!